I have a very strained relationship with word counts. I'm a chronic over-writer, so I usually have to cut thousands of words between the first and final draft. In can feel like pulling teeth, but many of these tricks will also make your prose stronger. So why do you need to cut words, anyway? There …
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Music Monday: “Frost”
Time for some good old-fashioned heartbreak. For those of you writing a tragic romance and needing that perfect, poignant song for inspiration. Ever had that relationship that could have been something magical, but just seemed to fall apart? And yet you still can't help but wonder "what if"? Vertical Horizon's "Frost" is a hidden gem, …
The Problem with “Likely” and “Probably”
Today I want to talk about a common issue with "likely" and "probably", as well as reasons you should use them sparingly and selectively in your narrative writing. So what's the problem? Often, "likely" and "probably" are used to explain something to the reader that's technically outside the main character's knowledge. Example: He scowled at …
My 5 Repeat Offenses in Writing
We all have those crutches and quirks that weaken our writing, and I am no exception. As it's generally good advice to be aware of your own weaknesses, I'm pointing out mine.I don’t even worry about these vices during the drafting phase, but I’ve learned to have a keen eye for them in revision. 1. …
Why is my book boring?
So you've sent your book off to beta readers and you get some heart-sinking feedback: your story is dull or the reader lost interest partway through. There are many reasons a reader's engagement can falter, but today I'm going to address one I see often: lack of tension. At any given point in your book, there …
How I Wrote a One-Page Synopsis
Synopses are hard. Sometimes they feel like a punishment sent by the writing gods to torment miserable authors.I'm not talking about the "back of the book" blurb or the summary you put in a query, but instead that other beast. The dreaded "1 to 2 page synopsis" required by some agents when querying.For those who …
Dreams vs. Goals
It's that time of year again. Everyone is looking forward to 2019 and setting their goals. I've been noticing a pattern of goal-setting that's a recipe for disappointment, so I'm going to speak a little bit about dreams versus goals. Some points in this article can be applied to self-pub goal-setting, but the examples I …
